Folding box and crate.



E. LACEY.

FOLDING BOX AND CRATE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910.

971,903,, 7 Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

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FOLDING BOX AND CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED mm 7, 1910.

Patented Oct. 4,1910.

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NIE STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

ELIZABETH LAGEY, OF OAKLAND TOWNSHIP, BUTLER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING BOX Ann CRATE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH LAoEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Oakland township, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Folding Boxes and Crates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to folding boxes and crates, and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a collapsible box or crate that can be folded to occupy a comparatively small space, either for storage or transportation purposes; second, to provide a collapsible crate that can be advantageously used for the transportation of poultry, fruit or other matter generally transported in crates that are returned to the owner; third, to furnish a folding crate with novel devices for retaining the parts thereof in a rigid and set up position and in a folded and compact position; fourth, to provide a collapsible crate that can be easily and quickly handled either in a set up or knocked down position, and fifth, to accomplish the above results by a structure that is strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With the above and such other objects in View as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed.

Reference will now be had to the drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevation of the crate, Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the crate, Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View of the crate, Fig. 5 is a plan of a detached lid adapted to form part of the crate, Fig. 6 is an end view of the crate collapsed, Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view of the same, Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the collapsed crate, and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.

A crate in accordance with this invention comprises a detachable bottom, front and rear walls, foldable end walls, and a hinged lid.

The bottom comprises a plurality of longitudinal slats 1 connected adjacent to the ends thereof by transverse cleats 2.

The front and rear walls are identical in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 7', 1910.

Patented Oct. 4., 1910.

Serial No. 565,508.

construction and each wall comprises longitudinal slats 3 connected adjacent to the ends thereof by vertical cleats 4L.

Hinged to the ends of the upper and lowermost slats of the front and rear walls, as at 5 are sectional end walls, each section comprising slats 6 connected by vertical bars 7, the upper and lowermost slats having the ends thereof hinged together, as at 8, whereby the sections of the end walls can be folded inwardly against the inner sides of the front and rear walls.

The lid comprises longitudinal slats 9 having the outer sides thereof adjacent to the ends connected by transverse cleats 10. The rear edge of the lid is hinged, as at 11 to the uppermost slat 3 of the rear wall, whereby said lid can be folded rearwardly upon the outer side of the rear wall. The front edge of the lid is provided with a pivoted hook 12 adapted to engage in a staple 13 carried by the uppermost slat 3 of the front wall.

The lowermost slats 3 of the front and rear walls upon, the inner sides thereof are provided with longitudinal supports 14 adapted to support the longitudinal edges of the bottom when the crate is in a set up position.

To collapse the crate the lid thereof is opened and the bottom removed from the supports 14. The sectional hinged end walls are then swung inwardly to engage the inner or confronting sides of the front and rear walls, the lid is then swung rearwardly upon the outer side of the rear wall, and then the bottom is folded upon the outer side of the front wall and the crate is ready for storage purposes. The bottom can be strapped or tied to the body of the crate or the bottoms of numerous crates can be packed together to form a separate parcel, but it is preferable to arrange the bottom upon the outer side of the front wall whereby the transverse cleats thereof will be wedged between the vertical cleats of the front wall, thus holding the bottom whereby it can be otherwise secured to the collapsed crate should it be desired to do so. It will also be observed that the cleats 10 of the lid wedge between the cleats 4 upon the outer side of the rear wall, thus holding the lid in a closed position upon the rear wall.

The crate is made of strong and durable wood, the hinges of metal and in its entirety can be finished to provide a sanitary structure.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

A collapsible crate comprising a removable bottom, front and rear walls, sectional end walls hinged to the vertical edges of said front and rear walls and adapted to fold inwardly against said front and rear walls, a lid hinged to the upper edge of the rear wall and adapted to fold rearwardly upon the outer side of said rear wall, longitudinal members carried by the lower confronting edges of the front and rear walls and adapt ed to support said bottom between said front,

rear and end Walls, cleats provided on the front and rear Walls, and cleats provided on said lid and bottom and so disposed with respect to the cleats of the front and rear walls that the cleats of the lid and bottom will wedge between the cleats of the front and rear Walls.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ELIZABETH LACEY. lVitncsses ALEX MITCHELL, CHAS. M. MITCHELL. 

